Featured image and gallery: Gracie Hall
The night starts with Liverpool-based Casino who rock the stage with a Beatles-esque swagger and upbeat songs, featuring the vocals of Dillon Kelly whose vintage sounding voice wouldn’t be out of place in a 1960’s soul band.
Second support Ellur, a Halifax native, swirls onto stage and proceeds to deliver an energetic and passionate performance. Ellur is the stage name of Ella McNamara, which Ella pronounces in her distinctive, native Yorkshire accent while sporting bright red wellies, a tweed suit jacket and a black tulle dress. Her setlist feature ‘Boys’, Ellur explains, is about being a teenage girl, despite being 23 herself.
Hailing all the way from Edinburgh, Brooke Combe finally takes to the stage at New Century Hall. This show marks one of her previously rescheduled dates, after originally having to drop out due to illness last year. Sporting a chic ensemble that exudes confidence, she wastes no time in captivating everyone with her magnetism.
With a contagious smile, Combe kicks off the set with ‘A-Team’, which chronicles being in a casual relationship but wondering whether you want more. Backed by a talented band whose chemistry is palpable, Combe navigates through a diverse setlist that spans genres and emotions.
‘Black is The New Gold’ highlights Combe’s lyrical skills, emphasising how we shouldn’t overlook artists due to their appearance. Another highlight of the evening comes during a soulful rendition of ‘Redbone’, a Childish Gambino cover; Combe’s velvety voice suits the song perfectly and delights the crowd who sing along with her.
Throughout the night, her stage presence remains captivating, effortlessly engaging with her audience and forging a genuine connection with each person in attendance. Brooke Combe is proving herself to be a true star on the rise.
Featured image and gallery: Sam Holmes From Mirfield to Manchester, this Yorkshire-born four-piece bring their funk-interwoven indie rock to a sold-out Gorilla for their biggest headline show to date. Fresh off the back of their new single ‘Watch Life Burn’ and signing their first record deal with This Feeling/ LAB Records, there is already a…
Featured image and photography: Aaron Parsons / Press Haiden Henderson isn’t a name known to many in Manchester, but the Californian rockstar certainly made sure to leave a lasting impression. With sensual and sexy songs, Henderson really knows how to heat up a crowd in more ways than one. Unreleased track ‘Freak For You’ sets a…
Feature image: Press The Manchester Film Festival has wrapped its 12th edition, running over 11 days and showcasing a strong line-up of local and international talent from across the independent film industry. Festival director Neil Jeram-Croft reflected on this year’s programme, filled with a mix of features, shorts and documentaries spanning the cities’ cinema hotspots:…
Featured image: Press Toots and the Maytals return to Manchester for their ‘Reggae Got Soul’ 50th anniversary tour. Following their hugely successful 2025 tour, Toots and the Maytals return to Manchester to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their landmark album, Reggae Got Soul. Fronted for decades by Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert – named by Rolling Stone…
Leave a reply